I am pregnant—where is the safest place for me to sit in the car?

Pregnant or not, we are all quite vulnerable when traveling in motor vehicles. Even if we are relatively safe drivers, it is impossible to completely stay away from certain individuals who choose to drive recklessly or make poor decisions on the road. There are, however, certain things that expecting mothers can do to protect themselves when riding in a car.

If you can avoid driving, that will take you out of the most dangerous location in the car for a pregnant woman. The driver's seat is most dangerous because of the placement of the steering wheel and its potential to crush a woman's belly in an accident. Unfortunately, we also know that it may be nearly impossible for you to play passenger for 9 months. After all, most women still need to commute to work and go about their daily lives. If that is the case, you should move your seat as far back as possible (while still being able to comfortably reach the pedals), and try to keep at least 10 inches between the center of your chest and the steering wheel.

The safest place in a car for a pregnant woman is in the back seat with a seat belt on; make sure the lap belt is tucked under your belly for maximum safety. If riding as a passenger in the front of the car, push the seat as far back as it will go and do not turn off the air bags. The air bags work in conjunction with your seat belt to keep you as safe as possible.

Do you have any car safety tips for pregnant women? Please feel free to message us on our Facebook page and share your advice.